Real-terms GP funding rose 3% across UK in 2016/17

GP funding rose by 3% in real terms across the UK in 2016/17, official NHS data reveal, but GP leaders warned investment remained far below the level required to meet soaring pressure on practices.

Total investment in general practice rose to £11.9bn across the UK in 2016/17 - a 5.07% cash-terms increase. Excluding spending on reimbursement of drugs, total UK investment in general practice in 2016/17 came to £11.2bn - up 5.68%, or 3.61% in real terms.

The figures show that general practice across the UK received real-terms increases in funding for the second year running.

GP funding across UK

The latest data show that 2016/17 funding rose fastest in England, up 5.23% in cash terms to £10.2bn from the previous year - a 3.17% rise in real terms.

Northern Ireland saw the slowest increase of the four UK nations, with a 3.31% increase in cash terms to £275.6m per year in 2016/17 - a 1.28% real-terms increase.

Excluding drug reimbursement, real-terms funding rose 3.78% in England to £9.6bn in 2016/17. Real-terms funding in Wales rose 3.1% to £473.5m; in Scotland it grew 2.79% to £835.2m; and in Northern Ireland it rose 1.3% to £271.5m.

GPC chair Dr Richard Vautrey said: 'The BMA’s GP committee successfully secured an additional £321m for general practice in England in the past year and whilst that has helped struggling practices it will take far greater levels of sustained investment to resolve the pressures on local GP services. With rapidly rising workload pressures, practices cannot be expected to deliver a comprehensive service for as little as £151 per patient per year.

'Many GP practices in England are struggling to cope with rising patient demand that is far outstripping current resources, especially as the profession is facing widespread staff shortages. Patients need the government to step up its funding commitment to general practice and deliver with greater speed its promised extra investment so that GP services are able to keep pace with the rising expectations and needs of the public.'